What does sullen mean?
Word: Sullen
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Sullen means quiet and bad-tempered, and not willing to smile or talk to anyone.
Synonyms: sulky, moody
How do you spell sullen?
Syllables: sul - len
Tricky part: The middle has a double l. Sulen, with just one, is the usual slip.
Watch out for: sulen, sollen
Memory tip: Picture the two tall ls as two friends standing stiffly side by side, each refusing to speak to the other.
Sullen in a sentence
Example 1: After losing the match, Leo sat in sullen silence all the way home.
Example 2: My little brother gave me a sullen look when I switched off the cartoon.
Example 3: Nobody could cheer up my sullen cousin at the family picnic.
Fun Fact
The word goes back to an old French word for single or alone, which suits a person who sits apart without speaking.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Tally
One letter has been dropped from each word. How many of the words have lost the letter e?
sulln, ardnt, mittn, ribbn, fabrc
a) 1
b) 2
c) 4
d) 3
Show answer
d) 3. The moody word, ardent and mitten have lost an e; ribbon has lost an o and fabric an i.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with its opposite:
1. timid 2. shallow 3. sullen a. cheerful b. bold c. deep
a) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
b) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
c) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
d) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
Show answer
c) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a. Timid is the reverse of bold, shallow of deep, and a glum silence of a cheerful chat.
Sound Check
In which word is 'ull' pronounced differently?
a) dull
b) gullible
c) pulley
d) sullen
Show answer
c) pulley. In pulley the u sounds like the oo in book; in the others it is the short u of cup.
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
lnesul
a) gloomy and keeping your thoughts to yourself
b) easy to see through, like clear glass
c) wearing very smart and costly clothes
d) quick and light in the way you move
Show answer
a) gloomy and keeping your thoughts to yourself. The six letters make the word for someone glum and silent.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. How would you spot a sullen pupil in a classroom?
a) a wide smile and a wave
b) a hand raised to answer
c) a frown and hardly a word
d) a loud laugh in the corridor
Show answer
c) a frown and hardly a word
2. A writer speaks of a sullen sky. What kind of day is it?
a) bright and clear from dawn
b) warm with a light breeze
c) fresh with spring sunshine
d) grey and heavy with cloud
Show answer
d) grey and heavy with cloud
